as in reversal
a changing from one policy or point of view to virtually its exact opposite
the candidate's frequent about-faces on issues disturbs many voters
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of about-face
IEEE Spectrum, 4 Feb. 2025
The announcement by the fourth-term congressman contradicted a statement last week from the military’s U.S. Northern Command, potentially reflecting an about-face by the Trump administration.
—John Aguilar, The Denver Post, 3 Feb. 2025
The White House about-face showed the limits of the administration’s broader effort to reduce the size and scope of government.
—Will Weissert, Chicago Tribune, 2 Feb. 2025
Colombia's about-face suggests that Canada and Mexico could also reach agreement with the U.S. and avert a painful trade war.
—Megan Cerullo, CBS News, 30 Jan. 2025
See All Example Sentences for about-face
Noun
The about-face is one of a slew of renewable energy rethinks since the Trump administration took office on 20 January.
—Recent Examples of Synonyms for about-face
Noun
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Soter said companies that had been preparing to meet the rule's requirements could see the writing on the wall, with Donald Trump's election victory marking a reversal from the climate action under President Joe Biden.—
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This stark reversal of values is a signature of the Trump restoration.—
Verb
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Efforts were concentrated last summer on an unprecedented spending spree of nearly £200million on nine new signings, but the narrative this summer could revert back to players in the squad likely to attract weighty transfer interest.—
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His proposal also would remove an enhanced credit for Idahoans 65 years and older, and instead revert them to the same credit that others receive.—
Verb
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Netflix exemplified this by pivoting from DVDs to streaming before the market forced the change.—
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Now seems like the perfect time to pivot back to music, RiRi.—
Noun
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The realities of Putin’s momentum, coupled with Washington’s volte-face, have led to a clear mood shift in Kyiv.—
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Read More: How Thailand’s Deputy Prime Minister Pushed Through Asia’s First Cannabis Legalization Cannabis advocacy groups and businesses have voiced their opposition to the policy volte-face, staging rallies and threatening a legal challenge against the premier.—
Verb
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Project 2025 also recommends rescinding federal civil rights protections for LBGTQ students, reducing funding for students with disabilities, and doing away with federal student debt forgiveness programs.—
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In the past four years, state hospital officials have proposed placing Wakefield at homes in Poway, Mount Helix and Borrego Springs, but each location was either rejected by a judge or later rescinded by state hospital officials.—
Verb
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The river eventually curves and disappears into the distance.—
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The long hood curves back to a glass bubble that mimics a fighter jet cockpit.—
Verb
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As of now, there is no case before the Supreme Court directly seeking to overturn Obergefell.—
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McCormick, who received loud boos for his response, then compared the crowd to the rioters who stormed the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021, seeking to overturn Joe Biden's victory in the 2020 election.—
Verb
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The family bowed their heads, made the sign of the cross and prayed.—
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That fierce jaw, those full lips, the upper one bowed and sweet — at odds with the mischievous grin tugging at its corners.—
Cite this Entry
“About-face.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/about-face. Accessed 28 Feb. 2025.
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